The Last Ship Review: The Six
Henry A. Otero
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How is it possible we're already at the penultimate episode of The Last Ship. Where did the first season go?
The Last Ship Season 1 Episode 9 might not have been heavy on action, but man did it deliver the tension and emotional impact we've come to expect.
Though Dr. Scott's prototype vaccine finally worked on one of the monkeys, the human trails were no walk in the park.
It's safe to say we've all been wondering if Chandler's wife and kids made it and are healthy. Well, this was the first time we check in with them back in the states. Darien, Tom's wife, insists on going into town to visit an electronic's shop. Tom's father needs a capacitor to fix a small radio communication's device.
It was great to see they're all doing well, however, later in the episode Darien seems to have been exposed to the virus. She's all sweaty and not feeling well. When she used her saliva to wipe off dirt from her son's face, it was a clear sign she spread the thing. Will Chandler arrive in time?
Back on the USS Nathan James, the crew is mourning Cossetti who risked his life last week for the mission.
Much like Cossetti, when the human trials begin there's just one unfamiliar face in the group. Token goner right?
Tex: What's this whole human guinea pig thing gonna look like? I mean basically you infect the crew with the virus and see what happens?
Rachel: Well not the entire crew. Six individuals of varying blood and genetic markings.
Among our brave volunteers are Master Chief Hugh Jeter, Chief Engineer Andrea Garnett, LT Kara Foster (yeah Danny's lady love), Miller, Tex (will he stop at nothing to impress Rachel? ha), and the random girl, Maya.
This installment was a real payoff for the Danny/Kara relationship. I'll admit I wasn't a fan of their storyline but I now understand the writers' choices. When Danny learns that she is pregnant, the two share one of the most touching scenes of the season. "Don't you dare leave me" he tells her. Plus the baby will be born immune, how cool is that?
I think I felt more stressed out watching our human guinea pigs being injected with the prototype vaccine and virus than at any other time this season. Michael Bay knows how to pile on the tension, no doubt about that.
As our heroes begin to develop symptoms, Rachel starts to get worried. You can always count on Tex though to keeps things light. Well, up until Kara's seizure begin. I may not have loved her character before, but I certainly did not enjoy watching the girl suffer. Luckily they stabilize her.
By the way, how brave was Bertrise (the young woman immune to the virus) throughout this whole ordeal? Not only did her DNA hold the secret needed for the prototype vaccine, but she was willing to risk her life by providing plasma to save "the six." Talk about a hero right?
The fever that caused Kara's seizure was not caused by the prototype. The virus had evolved. Meanwhile, Danny is truly concerned about Kara's survival odds.
Though we didn't know her long, it was a shock for Miller to realize Maya died quietly. Rachel is devastated naturally, but continues to defend her position. Maya's death was caused by a heart attack, which is not a symptom of the virus.
As the virus begins to behave more unpredictably, Rachel figures out that the immune system is fighting off the human gene patient zero introduced. Of course the prototype worked on the monkey, he had no human genes.
How brilliant is Rachel to decide to use the Arctic strain as a Trojan horse? It worked of course.
"Trials" was probably the most important episode of the season, as Rachel's cure finally becomes a reality. Were you expecting a cure in season one? I'll admit, I certainly was not.
Chandler: We have a vaccine?
Rachel: We don't just have a vaccine. We have the cure.
Chandler: You mean?
Rachel: I mean that we can save people who are already sick.
So The Last Ship is heading home in its final hour with a cure. Sure Chandler's family will need saving but where does that leave Season 2? I know I'm getting ahead of myself here, but if there's a cure will the virus mutate again rendering the vaccine useless?
Did you enjoy this episode as much as I did? What do you expect from the season finale? Let me know in the comments below. Want to watch the episode again? Remember you can watch The Last Ship online via TV Fanatic.
Will Chandler reach his family in time to save them?
